"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing"- Albert Einstein.
Ashley's POV
"Invite him over for dinner."
"What?!!"
"You heard me, pumpkin."
"Dad he's just my friend from school."
Here I am, trying so hard to make Dad and I not have this conversation. Again, here I am failing miserably because he was refusing to badge and being adamant about it.
He was sitting down watching news on the television when I walked down and he reduced the volume so we could have this conversation. I had been avoiding him all day but now I just couldn't anymore.
"Exactly. He's your friend, so it won't be a problem inviting him over for dinner. Just once. I don't know why you're so worked up anyway." He motions with his hand as he spread it in the air to emphasize the 'why'. And then he halts, raising his brows at me. "Or is there something I'm supposed to know that you're not telling me?"
My eyes widen in accusation, "No!!" I almost yell.
He stares at me, "Okay." And goes back to watching the News.
I sigh and rub my head from all the frustration I'm going through right now trying to convince my Dad that Grayson was just my friend and that he should not let me invite him over for dinner. I can actually try my luck again this time.
But can I?
"Dad," I say more calmly this time.
"Yes, Pumpkin?" He returns his attention back to me.
"Can you not let me invite him over, please?" I ask, eyes pleading with him.
He frowns as he asks, "Why?"
"Nothing." I mutter and he stares at me blankly.
He taps his chin in thought as he watches me carefully. "Do you like him?"
My eyes widen in horror. Why? Oh! Why did he have to ask me this question?
"D-dad..." I stutter, shyly turning my eyes away.
He smirks, "No need to answer." When I turn to look at him, he sighs, "You know ,I don't bite. Besides, what could I possibly say to your friend to scare him away? Nothing! Well..." He shrugs and shakes his head, a smile on his lips.
I look at him skeptically as he didn't seem fazed. "I won't scare him away, I promise. I just want to have a nice chat with him. Would you trust me?"
"Promise?" I ask. I needed to be sure.
He places his hand on his chest, "Cross my heart."
_ _
I was laying there, on my bed waiting anxiously for Grayson. Today too we're to go out together, again. I wonder where he'd be taking me. I can't wait, honestly but I'm slightly nervous. Come to think of it, how am I going to tell him that Dad wants him to have dinner with us sometime?
"I'm here." His message appears at the top of my screen and I smile immediately.
"I'll be out in a few minutes." I reply to his text.
After picking a handbag to match my clothes, I go downstairs to see Dad still there, this time he was watching something else.
"You're going out?" he asks as his attention was drawn to me.
"Yeah." I answer.
"With who?"
"Him." I say and his eyes widen with recognition.
He smiles, "Oh! What's his name again?"
"Grayson." I mumble.
"Nice. Ask him the question now. Or better still tell him your Dad wants to have a nice conversation with him before you guys go out. Can you do that for me?"
I won't win this matter, so it's best I do as said. I mean there's no harm in giving in, is there? "Sure." I say and continue my walk towards the door.
With my bag on my shoulder, I open the door and shut it behind me. I stroll towards Grayson, who was leaning against his car waiting for me.
When I get closer to him. "Hi!!" I whisper like I'm out of breath.
"Hi." He says back in acknowledgement, eyes glowing with delight.
"Um... My Dad wants to talk to you," I motion with my hand towards my house, "inside, right now." After I painfully utter the remaining words, I watch as he visibly gulps, stance shifting to that of an unsteady nervous one.
I would feel the same if I was his shoes. Imagine him telling me his Dad wanted to see me? I totally understand. I get it. I do!
"Okay." He says trying to sound bold and okay but I could right out hear his voice waver.
"Shall we?" I say before taking the lead, him trailing behind me.
We enter the house and as dad sets his eyes on him, he smiles and gestures to the space beside him. "Have your seat," he says referring to Grayson. Grayson complies and I was about to also take my seat when Dad's voice stops me.
"Pumpkin, you can wait for him in his car. We just want to have a man-to-man chat. Isn't that right Grayson?" He turns to Grayson who looked like he might pass out any moment from now.
"Y-yeah." He stutters out, nodding his head in addition.
I frown and grudgingly exit the house for his car. And when I sit in, I plug my earphone. Hopefully they'll finish soon.
-
And when after fifteen minutes he comes back.
"What did you and my Dad talk about?" I ask when he sits in the car.
He studies me, "Nothing really."
I frown at his answer, "Are you sure he wasn't disturbing you?"
"Oh no! he wasn't." He waves it off like nothing.
"Really?" I ask again to be sure.
He smiles and it reaches his eyes, "Yeah! Your Dad is pretty cool if you ask me."
My Dad! Pretty cool!
"I see!" I say.
"Yeah!" He smiles even wider.
"You're smiling." I point out, "And from the way you're smiling I guess something interesting happened in there?"
"Kinda." He says and I start to wonder what happened in there.
"I see! Would you mind sharing?"
"Your dad knew you'd ask so he made promise not to tell you." He lets out slowly, taking the words one by one.
Definitely, so Dad-like but then....
"So you'd pick my Dad over me?" I glare at him accusingly and he shifts in his seat uncomfortably.
"It's not that," He tries to reassure me, "your Dad made me promise him that I would never tell no matter how persistent you are."
I nod my head in understanding before turning my head to the side to look out of the window. I feel his gaze rest on me for a while before finally driving us out of my neighborhood.
Throughout the ride, I could feel him steal glances in my direction. Yet I was adamant not to meet his gaze. When we stopped at the red lights, his eyes remained on me whilst mine still remained on the window glass like it was the most beautiful thing.
"Are you angry with me?" He asks and I shake my head, still not turning to look at him.
He sighs, "But I feel like you are."
I turn to face him, a small smile on my lips, "I'm not angry with you."
"Okay." It was obvious he didn't seem convinced yet he had to let it go.
When we get to the place. We both get out of the car and he comes to my side and takes my hands into his. My eyes slightly widen at his actions.
He looks me dead in the eye, "I'm sorry." Immediately those words leave his mouth, I regret giving him the silent treatment. I mean how could I have done that to him when he had no fault in this. The person I should be angry at is my Dad and not him.
I sigh, "It's okay, really. I promise, I'm not pissed, at least, not anymore."
"So I'm forgiven?" he says with hopeful eyes and I grin.
"Pretty much."
"I'm glad. So shall we?" he asks and I nod, smile still in place.
"Yeah!" My eyes scan the gigantic building in front of me and I'm immediately enthused by awe.
"Wow!" I say and he smiles with pride.
"Let's go in." He takes my hand into his and leads me in.
When we enter, I nearly scream out of sheer joy but I don't. Rather I gasp as I take in the well decorated place. One word, It was romantic. From the lights to the set table and the rose petals spread on the floor. The whole room was glittering. It was a large hall with just a table and two chairs around it.
He leads me to the table, I couldn't stop smiling when he pulled out my chair for me and I sat. He goes to sit on the other chair directly across me and now we were facing each other.
The decorated table had wine glasses on it. He was smiling at me entire time and I couldn't find it in me to look away. My breath was stolen by him.
We wined and dined, chipping in random conversations here and there.
--
Soft music played in the background and I wondered what was happening.
I chuckle when Grayson leaves his seat and comes to my side. He pulls his hand out, a dashing and alluring smile on his lips. Hypnotised I was. "Can I have this dance?"
Without waiting, I let out a giggle and stand on my feet. I put my hand into his and he leads me to the empty space. He gently places his both hands on my waist and I place mine on his shoulders. We slowly sway to the chords of the music.
"You're beautiful." He compliments and I blush, shyly looking away.
"T-thanks." I stutter before staring back at him.
This time around, I stare into his pretty blue orbs that seem to captivate me every second I gaze into them. I take time to take in his beautiful features. His eyes, lashes, brows, nose, chiseled jaw. I smile at how handsome he is, jaw perfectly sculpted to fit his face. His dark-brown hair styled and in shape.
Wish I could run my hands through it.
And his lips.
How would it taste like?
Snap out of it Ash!
But I can't, I'm in it too deep to come back unscathed. It's okay to admire the beauty in front of me.
A stray hair suddenly falls from my head unto the curve of my face. His eyes automatically switches to the stray hair and before I know it, his hand reaches for my face and tucks the stray hair behind my ear. His fingers trail on my cheeks, caressing it, sending bolts of tingles bubbling in my tummy. We both halt and stare into each others eyes. Slowly, Grayson inches closer and closer as his hand on my waist tightens and the other continues its caresses on my cheek. His face inches closer and closer until the space between us decreases to almost non-existent. His breath fans my lips and I suck in a sharp breath from all the adrenaline pumping through my veins. My eyes shuts on its accord. In a matter of seconds, something soft touches my lips and I knew what it was from the tingles I was feeling in my tummy and the many emotions sizzling through my being.
Grayson's lips.
His lips brushes against mine in a way that left me out of breath. Shocked and inexperienced my lips do not move as his does. If not for his hand that was firm on my waist, I'm sure I would have let myself fall, for my legs were like jelly. He kisses the corner of my lips before fully merging my lips with his as his hand tugs my waist even closer. Shocked and numbed from how pleasant his lip felt against mine, I place my hand on his chest. I could feel him tense under my touch.
My first kiss.
Not knowing what to do, I try to respond by moving my lips so it could be in sync with his. When I do, he lets out a groan of approval and licks my bottom lip and that action alone made me loose my cool and get bolder, as I trail my hands all over his chest and then to his biceps and shoulders. I continue to trail my hands on his back and it finally lands in his hair. I run my hands through his brown locks as we continue to kiss. His hand freely roams all over my back as he continues to push me further into his chest.
We go on and on until we had to pull away just to breathe. Is this how it feels to kiss? Then, I would do it forever.
He laces his forehead with mine as we breathe heavily.
"Ashley," He says voice hoarse and out of breath as he continues to caress my cheek with his hand, the other around my waist. "Would you do me the honors of being my girlfriend?"
I pull my forehead away, pry my eyes open to find him staring at me with an intensity that could clearly show his vulnerability and nervousness. My eyes shifts to his lips that was on mine just a few seconds ago. It looked wet and red, slightly swollen, even.
My heart thumps loudly in my chest, can he hear it? "Yes!" I say, grinning widely.
*******
Yesss!!! It's finally here. What you guys have been waiting for.
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I know!! I know!! Long chapter, right?!!
Yay!!! They're finally together.
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